Spitfires and Stick Scaling
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Last update - 18 April 1999
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dracon posted 04-06-99 12:30 AM            

After a year and a half of WarBirds I think I've discovered a problem with the Spitfire and the joystick scaling settings. I like the Spits but I've had to "crank down the MSPPFF stick settings in the scaling Tab or it's Black/Red out city. My squad mates were talking about using special settings for some of the planes? This got me thinking,dangerous idea I took all settings to 100 straight across for all 3 surfaces and what do you know! All the planes that I thought were dogs, 47, 40, 51's were suddenly responsive. The Spit? Yep! Right back to Red/Black slumberland. So I did a little test. The f6f5 is just as fast as the Spit but at speed "X" I can pull pull pull on the stick and just barely "gray" out. The Spit, at the same speed with slightly more than 1/3 the stick movement is bang dead blacked out and gone. What the heck gives here? At the same altitude and the same speed the planes should react about the same. Even giving some allowance to turn ratios and control surface size, the Spit is way to sensitive to red/black outs. I now use 2 different stick sets, but this is kinda bogus. Am I wrong here? Shouldn't this be fixed? Speak up lads. I want to know what you all think.

As a precaution, Dracon dons Flame Retardent suit.

dracon

157th TFG Swamp Foxes

Raptor Flight

Wells posted 04-06-99 02:48 AM            

The 'real' Spitfire had very sensitive elevator control where the plane would stall long before the stick was pulled all the way back. Most planes required the stick to be pulled right back as far as one could pull it, but not the Spitfire.

Deadman posted 04-06-99 04:18 AM         

wouldnt it also have something to do with where the cockpit is located as to how bad g effects would be? like in a f4u with the cockpit so far behind the wing it seems g effects would be less severe as quickly as they would be say in a spit. dont know if im treading on thin ice here or not but sounds good off paper lol

also I have to agree with you that the spit seems to red out easier than any other plane in the inventory no matter where you have the stick set adjusted to thats why I dont like to fly em I cant keep my vision long enuff to kill anybody

Alleycat posted 04-06-99 08:00 AM            

The spitfire like Wells said had a very sensitive elevator.... Knowing this makes flying it a bit easier IMHO...

On stick scaling... I have always in 4 years of WB used 100% across the board for Pitch and Roll... with rudders scaled from 10-100%.

If you asked 100 people what is the best scaling you would probably get 100 different answers... But I can confirm this much... If you scale down you stick settings and fly in situations that require alot of sustained turning you will not get the responsivness that you would if you had them at 100%... In 4 years I have never been proven wrong in this area and I have tested extensivly on the subject.

The best advise I can give to anyone is to use settings which best suit you... sure take advice... use it ... then come up with your own opinion on what works best for you...

I personally have no problems with Black/redouts in any Spit model even with the scaling at 100%.. but Keep in mind I use a CH Force FX stick that has much more tension then a non-feedback stick.

Alleycat

Warbirds Training Staff

WB:==ac==

funked posted 04-06-99 05:44 PM            

Wait this guy is complaining that the Spitfire turns too well? Yes I agree! Add 3000 lb. to it and you won't have the blackout problem.

dracon posted 04-06-99 10:06 PM            

Thanks to all that replied. I always learn when I post. You guys are great! CYA up

dracon

157th TFG Swamp Foxes

Raptor Flight

Kats posted 04-06-99 10:23 PM            

I think the angle that the pilot seat is set to makes a difference as well.

Maj. Kats

CO(ret.)/Jg27

kats@jg27.org

Spitfire posted 04-07-99 12:13 AM            

I use 100 across for the spit and dont have these problems. Stay at or below corner and blackouts will never happen.

...and another thing, check the g meter when approaching a blackout or red out. You will find that g doesnt very that much for each individual a/c. You must also remember that stick position does not correspond to g, which is why it takes more "muscle" to get the same g in say a P51 then a Spitfire.

In response to the post about the Spitfire turning too well; it flies like it should.

Chipmunks, according to a WWII flier, are very similar to the spits. The Chipmunk is ver maneuverable.